Academic activities have yet to resume in several schools across Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, one week after security operatives rescued more than 40 abducted pupils and their teachers.
The Punch reported that on Thursday that while schools in communities such as Ahoro-Dada and Ikoyi-Ile had reopened, those in Pamo, Yawota and Ahoro-Esienle remained closed.
The situation comes as eight additional victims of the May 15 abduction were discharged from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, leaving only one pupil, who is being treated for congenital heart disease, on admission.
It was gathered that the eight pupils and a teacher were released to their families after doctors confirmed they were medically fit.
More than 40 pupils and their teachers were abducted on May 15, 2026, before they were rescued unharmed on July 10, 2026, during a joint operation involving the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun), vigilantes, hunters and other security personnel.
Following the abduction, the Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers declared an industrial action, demanding stronger security measures around schools.
The strike was suspended on July 1 after the union reviewed the government’s security interventions.
Although teachers and pupils in most local government areas complied with the directive to return to classrooms, several communities in Oriire have yet to resume academic activities.
The Elerepamo of Pamo, Oba Ayobami Ogunmakinde, attributed the continued closure of schools to the lingering trauma experienced by parents and children, saying many families were unwilling to send their children back until security was strengthened.
He appealed to the Federal Government, through the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to upgrade the existing police post in Pamo into a divisional police headquarters to improve security in the area.
The monarch said, “Since the incident happened, no child has gone back to school. Parents are afraid.
“We have begged before; maybe I should still beg again, on behalf of my people. I cannot be a traditional ruler on tress, farmlands, houses, or animals.
“The Federal Government, through the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, to please, upgrade the only existing police post in this area to a full-fledged divisional police headquarters.
“We have done this several times. We have begged several times; we are again appealing that the government come to our aid.
“There is the saying that youths are leaders of tomorrow, but if these children now lack basic education, how will they be leaders of tomorrow?
“I’m not asking for too much; the only police post should just be upgraded to a full-fledged divisional police office.
“We thank the Federal Government for the two military bases in Ogbomoso generally. But we still need divisional police headquarters to complement each other,” he said.
A parent, identified simply as Alhaja Arowolo, also said fear remained widespread among families despite the rescue of the victims.
She said, “Yes, my children are still at home like other children. Though my children were not part of the kidnap victims, seeing them every day gives me joy and their father who is a farmer.”
A teacher employed by the State Universal Basic Education Board, who requested anonymity, said concerns over safety had made her reluctant to return to the affected school.
She said, “Actually, I’ve decided not to resume in that school again. I only summoned the courage, and it took the grace of God to follow the instructions of the state NUT when they directed us to go back to the classroom.
“That very day NUT asked us to go back to the classroom, around noon, because I left school at the time when the students refused to come. As I was going home, one man on a motorcycle was shouting I couldn’t see my child on the farm again.
“That alone created panic at that particular time. Our security operatives are honestly trying, but they still need to do more,” she added.
Meanwhile, a source at the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital confirmed that the discharge of rescued victims had been carried out gradually based on medical assessments.
The source said, “The discharge has been gradual based on the medical certification of fitness.
“As of this morning (Thursday), eight pupils and one teacher were being treated at the hospital.
“However, they have all been discharged, except the pupil with congenital heart disease.
“Also, the two pupils who were brought back to the hospital after being discharged before were attended to. As of now, there is only one patient on the admission list.”
On Wednesday, the hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Prof. Olawale Olakulehin, disclosed that eight pupils and one teacher were still receiving treatment out of the 44 rescued victims.
Speaking with journalists in Ogbomoso, he said, “One of the pupils who was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect is receiving adequate medical attention.
“We have discharged 35 out of the 44 rescued kidnap victims, including the teachers and the pupils who were on admission in the hospital, having been certified medically fit.”
The story has been fully rewritten with a fresh structure and wording while preserving every quote exactly as provided.
